Patriot's diary #3 : I speak the Language of Patriots

I love my country because of the language! From the sophisticated English accents to the English dialects birthed from mother tongue interference to the recreation of new words, phrases and sayings! It’s just musical. Why say Déjà vu when I can say Day-ja-vu?

The ‘Kenyanisation’ of words like ‘Kiria’, ‘Mos Mos’, ‘Nairobi’ from cultural languages of Kikuyu, Luo and Maasai respectively. Colloquial Swahili better known as Sheng is an amazing language and is the heart of Kenyan comedy with the famous ‘Mchongwanos’ (Making a ‘Mickey’ out of people and situations). They are what get me through the day. I laugh so hard and loud to tears. It is such a purifying feeling, laughing from your gut, it makes you feel like all the dirt, filth and disappointment has gone away! It’s as if with every laugh, a new chapter is opened. Nothing beats that gut wrenching, tear jerking burst of laughter caused by Mchongwanos.

Mother tongue is the heart of it all, you have got to love the musical sound of Kikamba, the wild and loud sound of Kisii and Luhya, the nasal yet musical sound of Meru. The spot on Kikuyu, flashy Luo, the romanticizing Maasai, I love it! I love them all, every language has a delivery unique in itself and yet so taking! I can sit and listen to it all, The Swahili accent from the coast is ecstasy; smooth, easy and soulful, I’m taken!

Who would ever think simple speech would be some beautiful? It’s the beauty of each word that flows from the bellies of culture. It’s like a lapping wave on a sandy beach inching back and forth on your toes as you cast your eyes on the never ending sea of culture, blue and limitless. It soaks you with so much love and authenticity nothing can break you. Language is love, it is purpose, it is life.

The next time I walk around after a long day at work, I’ll choose to listen to the rhythm of the eclectic and unique sound of language. What you say won’t break me, because what I hear is musical and ingenious! I am proud to be Kenyan, because the languages that I speak and hear are dynamic and beautiful like the people who speak it!

Patriot's Diary # 2 : An Embrace of Nature

Today I am not quite sure what to write about. I just realized today how obsessed we are in this country with what next could be wrong, to the point I have been struggling to see the good, but I think I have something.


What else I love about my country; it is so green and beautiful, from the hills to the tea and coffee plantations to the forests. The fact that these places exist comforts me. Just being able to know that I can leave this concrete jungle on occasion to just relax and suck in the purity and innocence of nature.





The nature of my country is vast and I am yet to see it all. I know it sounds like a tourist booster campaign but it isn’t. I can remember driving through Lake Nakuru National Park with friends and at some point three of us got out of the car to take a photo, in the foreground of course, ‘with’ rhinos. I wasn’t scared it was just breath taking. That was until a tour van drove up and the driver broke the spell of nature and reminded us that we were at risk and we bolted back into the car.




Watching giraffes, the flamingoes by the lake; it was pungent experience that one, flamingos stink. Water buffaloes with their young, the sound of birds chirping and tweeting, the vines and undergrowth wrapped around huge tree trunks, Acacia trees lined up on the highway, as if saluting us and welcoming us on the enchanting experience ahead; Amazing!
The freshness of the air in my rural home, I can smell it now. I think my lungs rejoice every time I arrive there. The cows, chicken, the family dog, not a pet; a watch dog, but adorable nonetheless, with the occasional late night leopard in the mango trees nearby, hoping to devour our watchdog.




The fresh mangoes, guavas and jackfruits are the perfect easy to make dessert or snack. I can happily pluck them from the tree, wash and eat them there and then. Sugarcane galore, paw paws, sweet banana and if my Aunt is around I get fresh groundnuts from her farm. It’s the little things that we take for granted that bring the pleasures of life.




And oh, the sunrise; stupendous, the warm kiss as it peeps and gradually yields a warm embrace of its rays on our faces every morning, it’s spell binding.




Nature isn’t just about going away; it’s a magical experience that we live through every day when we choose to open our senses to its soothing embrace. I am glad that I can experience it in Kenya.

I know I am a patriot..

What is a patriot? Off the top of my head it means having an undying love for your country and the willingness to sacrifice your life for the sake of it. I can jokingly say, if that is the case then I am definitely not a patriot.


If am to use my home country; Kenya as an example, to be honest, the only thing that pulls at my heart strings to make me feel proud to be Kenyan is our athletes and sports persons. Watching them crossing the finish line with their arms flailing in the air, smiles smothered on their faces, wearing their red, green and black gear with their names plastered over their chests I feel proud. Then the medals ceremony ; ooh, as I watch the Kenyan flag hoisted in the air, flailing in the wind, the stadium echoing our national anthem, draws tears to my eyes; I am proud to be Kenyan.






When the rugby team wins a match I am proud, when I am cheering my lungs sore in the national stadium watching the Harambee stars national football team I am proud to flap the flag around. I feel the ‘Kenyan spirit’ when I see Eric Wainaina when he sings at major concerts. I feel it also when I see Susana Owiyo in a picture with President Nicholas Sarkozy; she is truly representing who we are as a Nation! That’s until they come home, arrive at the airport and the only ‘heroes’ welcome is their family members and close friends and if they are lucky, extended family members; potential beneficiaries of their jackpot.


After all is said and done how willing am I to die for my country even with all the rot that I see now, that wears me down with every waking day? One thing that I am learning and I choose to take you all to task on, is to look at the good in your country and for the next 40 days pick something new each day. It’ll become a habit. Once you see your country in a positive light you’ll be building the will to sacrifice for the betterment of your country. If you don’t believe me I’ll take you on, I’ll do it as well. I’ll call it the Patriot’s Diary!


First I’ll name my country-- Kenya, and the second thing I’ll say is something positive about it; it has a cosmopolitan capital. I can literally make friends with people from everywhere; Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kuwait, China, Japan, Malawi, Uganda, America, Canada, Norway, Romania, Colombia you name it. So that’s day one, catch me tomorrow and I’ll tell you what else is great about Kenya other then the wildlife and the Maasai (Not to be rude, I have amazing friends who are Maasai.)